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DIRT
The morning sun filters through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the bedroom. Lore’s soft breathing and the steady rhythm of her heartbeat against my chest are soothing, like a balm to my soul. I breathe in the scent of her hair, cherishing the quiet intimacy of the moment.
As if sensing my wakefulness, Cosmo, her cat, jumps onto the bed, landing squarely on my chest. He turns in a circle a couple of times, kneading his paws into my skin before resting his furry face against my neck.
“Really, Cosmo?” I roll my eyes toward the ceiling, though in truth, I don’t mind. Everything I’ve ever wanted is right here in this bed with me—Lore’s warmth pressed against my side, her gentle snores filling my ears, and even her cat purring against my throat.
I miss my brothers in the Savage Angels, but living with Lore and working with her in the bar has brought me a contentment I haven’t felt with my brothers in a long time.
My cell phone on the nightstand vibrates, and I reach for it, keeping one arm wrapped tightly around Lore so as not to disturb her slumber.
There’s a one-word message, and my heart beats a little faster when I read…
Dane: WAR
“Is something wrong?” Lore’s sleepy voice interrupts my thoughts, and I quickly lock my phone and set it back down on the nightstand.
“Nothing to worry about,” I assure her, though I can feel the weight of the message bearing down on me.
“You’re a terrible liar, Dirt,” she chides gently, propping herself up on one elbow to look at me. Cosmo rises, meows in her face, and jumps off the bed. “Do they need you?” Lore traces patterns on my chest. “We both know if you wanted back in, Dane would take you.”
Covering her hand with my own, I say, “I’m here.”
She looks at me, a depth of understanding passing between us. Lore knows me better than any woman ever has, but beneath the shared affection, there’s an unspoken truth—we both know that if I go back to the Savage Angels, I’ll lose her forever.
“Good,” she murmurs, her voice barely a whisper. “I love you, Dirt.”
“I love you too.”
The words hold weight, and the sentiment is genuine. Yet, as we lay here, entwined in a moment of shared emotion, the knowledge lingers that my ties to the club mean I’ll always carry the weight of worry for my brothers and feel the instinct to check up on them, even when miles away. Just because I love Lore doesn’t mean it erases the bonds that have shaped my life.
Rising, I pick up my cell phone, go into the bathroom, and slide the door closed. Taking a deep breath, I call Dane.
“You made me a promise a while back. Will you honor it?”
“Hello, Dane.”
“Will you?”
Scrubbing a hand down my face, I say, “My word is my bond. I just need to tidy things up here.”
“How will Lore react?”
“We both know she’ll handle it badly.”
“Make her understand.” Dane ends the call.
A soft knock sounds on the door, and I slide it open. Lore is standing there in one of my old black T-shirts, a sad smile on her face.
“Since when do you make secret phone calls in the bathroom?”
Taking her hand, I lead her back to the bed and sit on the edge of it.
“Dane sent me a text message, and I wanted to talk to him.”
“And?” she whispers.
“You know, leaving the MC wasn’t easy,” I admit, my voice rough with emotion. “Those guys are my family and were my entire world. But, being here, with you... it feels like I’m starting to build something new.”
